Braw Tales, by Mull Theatre: Animated escapes from the modern plague

THROUGHOUT the pandemic, theatre artists have been locked out of their plague-shuttered playhouses. Many have become engaged in alternative, online activities in order both to provide much-needed employment for themselves and others, and to maintain the essential connection with their theatre-starved audiences. One of the most imaginative and rewarding of these online projects is Braw Tales, the latest online offering from Mull Theatre. Unable either to welcome visitors to its splendid, little playhouse at Tobermory or to take its theatrical wares on tour, the Hebridean company has chosen, instead, to beam (or, more accurately, stream) five new, short, animated films into our homes. One film was released on each day of the week just past (from Monday through to Friday), and all of the mini-movies are available now through Mull Theatre’s Vimeo page. First up was Stella, a semi-autobiographical piece written by Morna Young and animated by Kate Charter. The piece is a humorous account of an encounter between the titular, bright, Scottish schoolgirl (and would-be astronaut) and a rigidly unimaginative careers advisor. It is also, in its alternate moments, a contemplation of the universe. Young’s text is beautifully written, humorous, touching and empowering – especially for girls held back…
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